World Bee Day 2021
May 20th 2021 is World Bee Day. Learn how you can play your part with Taste Wexford.
World Bee Day celebrates our important pollinators and their critical role in preserving our biodiversity and ecosystems. Wexford is a county rich in agricultural history and significance in Ireland, so it is important that we conserve the population of bees to continue to enjoy diverse fruits, vegetables and crops in the Model County.
The United Nations (UN) reported that over 90% of the world’s flowering plants, 75% of food crops and 35% of agricultural land rely on animal pollination. For this reason, bees are crucial to the world’s food supply.
To mark World Bee Day, Slow Food have launched an international “Slow Bees” action which aims “to rise in defence of pollinators and provide greater resonance, outreach and visibility to the threats bees and other pollinators, plants and biodiversity face today”.
Here are a number of actions that you can take to play your part in the global conservation efforts as outlined by the UN:
Plant a diverse set of native plants, which flower at different times of the year
Buy raw honey from local farmers
Buy products from sustainable agricultural practices
Avoid the use of pesticides, fungicides or herbicides in your garden
Protect wild bee colonies when possible
Sponsor a hive
Make a bee water fountain by leaving a water bowl outside
Help the sustaining forest ecosystems
Raise awareness by sharing information within our communities and networks
The National Biodiversity Data Centre also recommends taking part in ‘No Mow May’ where you refrain from mowing your lawn to encourage the growth of clover - also known as bee’s bread due to being a main food source for bumblebees.
These simple actions can help to promote the growth of our bee population and to maintain the wide biodiversity and range of crops that we enjoy in County Wexford - from golden barley to juicy berries.
Visit the official World Bee Day website for more information on the event and what you can do to help.
Get involved in World Bee Day 2021 with Taste Wexford.
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